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Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has welcomed Vietnam’s decision to ratify the Hague Convention on inter-country adoption.

Minister Fitzgerald said "I am pleased that the Vietnamese authorities have ratified the Hague Convention on Adoption and the ratification enters into force on 1^st February 2012.

Minister Fitzgerald stated "since taking up my position as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have been active in seeking to ensure that the desires of Irish families to adopt from Vietnam can be fulfilled.

"Last month I met with the Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland Mr Vu Quang Minh and I impressed upon the Ambassador Ireland’s wish to continue to see Vietnam as a country of choice for adoption for prospective Irish adoptive parents.

"The Vietnamese authorities have worked assiduously over recent months in preparing to ratify the Hague Convention and to develop an adoption process that supports safe and secure domestic and inter-country adoptions.

"I know this has been a difficult time for the many Irish families who hope to adopt from Vietnam, but I hope that Vietnam’s decision to ratify now means that the administrative arrangements required to commence adoptions from Vietnam can finally be put in place.

"The necessary diplomatic engagements will continue between Ireland and Vietnam to ensure these final steps are now taken and I have already arranged to again meet the Vietnamese Ambassador to Ireland before the end of the month.